Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-09-17

Certainly. It shall be an uncondi-
/ tional surrender" and from the look in
Bert's eyes Miss Aarlett thought that It
would not be his side Of the argument
alone that would be surrendered to
Gertie.
A few moments later Gertie ex-
cused herself and went to the kitchen
to make the biscuits for tea; and Mrs.
| Weston and Bert were soon so deeply
/ engaged IN conversation that they
never noticed that Miss AIarlett, laying
down the paper she had been pretend
| ing to read, had left them alone for mo-
ment or two, returning with a some
what flushed face, but a triumphant
look in her eyes.
When Gertie appeared, after putting
her biscuits in the oven, Miss Marlett
proposed that they have tea out on the
porch. at viii not make yOu much
more work, for we viii help, she said;
"yOu get whatever you want for tea
ready, and I VIII carry it out and set
the table"
OF course Gertie acquiesced, and the
table was soon set. Miss Marlett proved
so helpful In her fear of making
Gertie more work by her plan Of an
outdoor tea, that she even took the
biscuits from the oven and arranged
them upon the table; so it was not I'M
til Mrs. Weston, removing the snowy
napkin that covered them, passed the
plate to Mr. Maynard that Gertie
noticed them. Then she could scarcely
believe her eyes, for instead of the
nice, white biscuits she had expected to
see, and which all her past experience
justified her In expecting, they were as
yellow as saffron, and smelt strongly Of
salaratus.
"What in the world ais your bis
cults, Gertie 2" said Mrs. Weston
stop, Mr.. Maynard, as that gentle
man, IN pity for the embarrassment so
plainly discernible IN Gerties face,
broke open the one he had taken
and raised it to his lips Don't eat
that; Gertie viii get some bread"
Thanking her mother, in her heart,
for sending her instead of going her
self, Gertie rose Just as Miss MarIett,
with a perceptble sheer in her voice.
said:
"Im so sorry you didn't tell US you
couldn't make them, and let me do it
for YOU, Gertie; but don't feel at all
grieved over your failure perhaps you
Will do better next time"
Perhaps she viii, Miss Marlett, if
she does not have too much assistance.
The old saying of "too many cooks
spelling the broth" is undoubtedly
true; and this little trihe viii prove
that some one else, as well as Miss
Gertie. took part in mixing the bis
cults" and Bert held out a piece Of the
one he had taken, with a small gold
coin imbedded in the center of it.
Miss Marlett glanced at the trifios
and her face took a grayish hue as she
recognized the coin that last night had
occupied a place upon her bracelet.
Not for ten times the value of that
coin would she have had Bert Maynard
know how she lost it, and she would
have denied owning it now, but she
knew by his looks it was no use. Her
hand trembled a little in spite of her
efforts to keep 1t steady, as she silently
took the coin he held towards her; and
she mentally blessed Mr.. Weston, who,
seeing her distress and plying her,
asked Mr.. Maynard some question and
so changed the conversation, while
! Gertie and her mother, with true lady
! like tact, appeared not to notice her
embarrassment.
In spite of the efforts OF all con-
| cerned the meal was rather a silent
one, and no objections were raised
when, at its close, Miss AIarlett, saying
she had letters to write, begged to be
excused, and went back to Mrs Jack
! sons.
At see now how it was, said Gertie.
when, later in the evening, Bert had
| told them how he knew to whom the
bangle belonged. Il left the -four in the
pan, and the box of salaratus by it
/ while / went to the we'll for some fresh
water. She must have put the salaratus
in while was gone and lost the bangle
/ then"
al presume So" said Bert, "for I re
member now that she left your mother
and 1 alone for a few moments, bu
perhaps the chance Of settling on,
! argument is not lost, for your mothe
has consented to let me board here TIT
| rest of the vacation.
When Mr.. Maynard returned to Mrs
Jackson's late that evening he was sur
prised to find Sarah Ann still up, an,
to learn that Miss Marlett had left 70
New York on the night express. An,
as she left no address it was impossible
to send her wedding cards when, tina
fall, Gertie became Bert Maynard
bride.